What an international student says about life in England

Hi Takahiro, where are you from and what brought you to England?

My name is Takahiro Kida and I am from Japan. I am doing a PhD in Media. Before I came to England,  I was working in the same field in Japan. I first came to England to do a Master's in Migration Studies, and I stayed on to do a PhD. I arrived in England in October 2009, which means that I have been here for almost seen years!

What is the process for a student to move to England?

First, you should thoroughly think about the course you want to study, and where you want to study — do you want a campus or a city student life? There are many options for international students in England — most of which include world-famous universities. Once you are unconditionally accepted to a programme, you can start the process to obtain the student visa. The universities in England are used to deal with international students, so they usually have a strong team to guide you through the process.

What is your favourite thing about England, and what is your least favourite thing?

Compared to Japan, I like the individualism in England. You have more freedom to be yourself. The least favorite thing is the bad weather. No matter what you have heard about the cloudy days in England, you won't know until you experience it yourself. And this is coming from someone who lives in one of England's driest and sunniest spots — Brighton.

How would you describe England in one sentence?

Make do with the bad.

What has surprised you the most about England?

The quality of housing is pretty bad. I live in Brighton and finding decent accommodation is difficult here because there are a lot of students competing for similar levels of accommodation. A shared flat is a common practice. As a foreigner, renting through agencies can be difficult because generally foreigners won't have the required UK guarantors.

What is some essential etiquette in England?

English people make an effort to say thank you to every service they get, or with every interaction they have. Now, I say thank you for example to the bus drivers in Brighton as I get off. I never did that in Japan, but here it has become a habit that wasn't difficult to pick up.

How do you find the lifestyle in England?

I think a lot of the English lifestyle is a reaction to the bad weather. The weather is not going to get better because of you, so you end up adapting your lifestyle, whether you like it or not. For example, on a sunny day people rush outside for a drink in the pub's garden, a run by the sea, a walk, a lunch break in the park. But when the rain and the cold hit, everything becomes more homey.

How is the transportation system in England?

The bus transport in Brighton is well established. The train service of Southern railway which connects Brighton and London is unpredictable with many delays and cancelations. However, the cost of tranpsport remains high.

What do you do in your free time?

I meet up with friends at a pub, go to the movies, to gigs, etc. For a small town, there are a lot of creative and artistic things happening in Brighton to cater for all tastes. Brighton is a very vibrant place, and the vast student population has a lot to do with it. I have also quite recently started bouldering.

What is your opinion on the cost of living in England?

Compared to Tokyo, Brighton is not so bad. But to be honest, I find the price of groceries expensive.

Share your most memorable experience in England.

Once there was a heavy snowfall, and it took me eight hours to get back from London to Brighton, when it usually takes no longer than an hour. That was such an unexpected adventure!

If you could do the move to England over, what would you do differently?

I would probably try to settle in one accommodation for longer rathen than moving places almost every year.

What do you think of the local cuisine? What are your favourite dishes?

I think the stereotype of British food being bad is true, but they are unbeatable when it comes to pies and tarts. To name a few: beef and veg in puff pastry, fisherman's pie, leek and potato pie.

What do you miss the most about your home country?

The hot springs. In Japan, you can dip into a hot spring all around the country.

Have you had a moment that you almost felt like leaving from England? What kept you in?

I am here for studies, so I didn't really have the option of leaving unless I quit my studies, which I wouldn't. However, I travelled to other countries when I felt like I couldn't cope and I needed a break. Being so close to the Gatwick and Heathrow international airports is a great excuse for regural escapes.

Give us some useful tips that soon-to-expatriates in England will benefit from.

Don't underestimate how the weather can affect you!

What are your plans for the future?

I will leave the UK after I finish my studies, and I will look for work opportunities elsewhere.

What is one thing that you will take with you from England?

The friends that I made here from all over the world. Brighton is a really international place, where many cultures come together.